Results tagged “cdc” from 60 Second Science

Autoimmune diseases have become the third biggest category of disease in the U.S. after cancer and heart disease, and some say that the prevalence is still rising. Now the CDC tells us we've got another gem to add to the mix: "progressive inflammatory neuropathy." It's a fancy if vague name for a collection of symptoms ranging from mild weakness to total short-term paralysis, and it's thought to be caused by the inhalation of pig brain. Yep, you read that right.

Continue reading 'New CDC memo: don't go around snorting pig brains' >

"Exposure to violent electronic media has a larger effect than all but one other well-known threat to public health. The only effect slightly larger than the effect of media violence on aggression is that of cigarette smoking on lung cancer," said L. Rowell Huesmann, author of a new study in a special edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health looking at over 50 years of research.

While smokers can remain excited that they're still living on the edge as by far the most badass people in the world, people have been ragging on violent media for, obviously, over 50 years (actual date closer to 2000 years.) But it looks like this study was promoted by the government. At the very bottom of the press release is this tidbit: "The supplement was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Continue reading 'The CDC wants you to know that video games are almost as bad as smoking' >

In 2005-2006, the same number of adults were obese as in 2003-2004, says the CDC. That's still 1 in 3, or twice the rate of obesity the U.S. could lay claim to in 1980.

Whether this is a temporary lull or a heartening new trend, at least, for the first time in decades, we did not become any more massive than we already are.

[CDC]

I'm used to streaking in the winter. People have their favorite wintertime activities -- hockey, skiing, etc. Mine just happens to be streaking, and the only residual negative was, apart from dodging the cops, catching a cold from a weakened immune system. But I'm going to have to rethink my activity now: Researchers at the CDC have discovered a particularly virulent strain of the adenovirus family of viruses that causes the common cold. Between March and May 2007, 140 people fell ill with adenovirus 14 in New York, Texas, Oregon and Washington state, and 10 of those people died. A few who died were described as "healthy, young adults."

[Gulp] That almost describes me, minus the "healthy" and "young."

Continue reading 'Common cold now causes sneezing, coughs and DEATH' >